Company News
Pirelli 2019 Formula 1 tyres – what’s new?
Pirelli’s ninth consecutive season as the exclusive tyre supplier to Formula 1 sees the manufacturer make several changes to its tyre range. This isn’t new – Pirelli has changed its tyres somewhat every season – but the changes to this year’s compounds, making their debut on the 2019 cars in Barcelona this week, offer a few more fundamental differences than we have recently come to expect.
Deldo doubles warehouse capacity
The year has started well for Deldo Autobanden – the Belgium-based tyre wholesaler says its new warehouse in the Port of Antwerp is now finished and operational, and the facility’s entry into service has effectively doubled stock capacity to more than 2 million tyres. According to Deldo, this added capacity is aiding an expansion of its premium as well as budget segment ranges and offers customers throughout Europe an enhanced ‘just-in-time’ service.
Portimão racetrack extends Davanti official tyre partnership for three more years
The Autódromo do Algarve has agreed a three-year extension to its official tyre partnership with Davanti Tyres. The circuit, which plays host to the European LeMans Series, 24H Endurance Series, the FIM World Superbike Championship, and the Algarve Classic festival, is recognised for the technical challenge it poses to racers. The UK tyre brand, which launched its first tyre in 2015, describes the new deal as “a massive coup.”
Bridgestone buying back up to 14 million shares
Bridgestone is set to buy back as many as 12 million of its shares at a fixed price of 4,195 yen per share, based on the closing price at the time of the announcement.
MOL and Total extend their fuel cards acceptance network in Europe
MOL and Total have signed an agreement in Budapest to provide for acceptance of MOL Group Cards by Total in its network of stations in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Germany. Total fuel cards will also be accepted in MOL’s and Slovnaft’s network of stations in Hungary, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Kumho confirms interim as permanent CEO, announces loss
Kumho Tire has appointed its interim CEO as the new permanent CEO following reports it was struggling to find a suitable candidate. South Korean media sources report that the Board approved the appointment of vice president Jeon Dae-Jin (60) yesterday. Kumho also reported a net loss for the fourth consecutive year in its annual financial report.
Jun Ro Song appointed Kumho Tire Europe president
Jun Ro Song was appointed president of Kumho Tire Europe on 1 January, 2019. He succeeds Kyungtai Ju, who has returned to Korea. The 53-year-old has held numerous positions with the Korean tyre manufacturer for almost 30 years.
Goodyear to expand Slovenia manufacturing facility
Goodyear announced that it will expand its manufacturing facility in Slovenia to meet the growing demand for premium tyres in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The plant, in Kranj, will be expanded to house new tyre building machinery intended to increase its capacity by a quarter, creating more than 150 new jobs, and reaching full capacity by 2021.
Nokian named as a sustainable company in RobecoSAM Yearbook
Nokian Tyres has received the Silver Class distinction in the RobecoSAM Sustainability Yearbook 2019. RobecoSAM is an expert on sustainability whose annual assessment is considered to be a particularly reliable and comprehensive report of how sustainability is implemented in companies around the world.
Engineers working on £120 million Fort William alloy wheel factory
On 5 February plans to make Fort William a UK alloy wheel centre of excellence reached another milestone as ground engineers moved onto the site earmarked for Liberty’s flagship factory. According to the company, the technical team moved in with their rigs and excavators for six weeks of in-depth ground investigations which will provide vital information for the design of foundations for the planned plant that is intended to manufacture wheels for at least a fifth of all UK-made cars from 2022 onwards.
Goodyear certified ‘Top Employer UK’ for the sixth time
Goodyear has been recognized by the Top Employers Institute as a ‘Top Employer’ in the United Kingdom for the sixth time. This certification is granted on a yearly basis by the independent organisation Top Employers Institute to companies that dedicate themselves to providing the very best working environment for employees through their progressive ‘people-first’ HR practices.
Michelin’s growing speciality tyres business helps manufacturer register positive 2018 result
Michelin sales rose by 0.3 per cent in 2018 to more than 22 billion euros, while operating income increased by 1.2 per cent.
Tyre Recovery Association announces details for 2019 Recycling Forum Day
The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has announced its Recycling Day Forum will be held on 18 June 2019 at the Ardencote Manor Hotel, Warwick. The theme for this year’s event is ‘2020 and Beyond’ with guests from Europe and from the UK discussing the direction of tyre recycling in the future.
Reports: Kumho “struggling” to find CEO
Kumho Tire has been struggling appoint new company leadership after its previous chairman left following Doublestar's purchase of the company.
Spanish tyre management system integrates e-jobsheet
A major supplier of tyre management systems into Spain is integrating e-jobsheet, the open-access, digital tablet-based service work platform for truck, bus and van, into its software. NETIXCloud’s partnership with CAM will enable its Spanish dealer customers to update stock efficiently in their dealer systems while simultaneously updating data in Fleetbridge if they are carrying out work for Bridgestone.